Tobacco sponsorship had nothing to do with it. The problem was they persevered with poor designers and refused to accept that they were not up to the job. They've only just addressed the problem, but they're so far off the pace its embarrassing.

I think Sutil has been a LOT more exciting in recent months... perhaps to show off his wares to other teams. If he can maintain his current form Williams would be stupid NOT to snap him up, either if the Raikkonen deal comes off or doesn't (Raikkonen and Sutil would be a great pairing)

I hear that Sutil is not too good in giving feed back. it seems that Kimi doe scare about pointy car, Kinda point on which team can say more about it, ... Imagine if Sutil does not like to drive a pointy car next to Kimi. Rubinho, I think he is great, as he knows how to fix it up.

I hear that Sutil is not too good in giving feed back. it seems that Kimi doe scare about pointy car, Kinda point on which team can say more about it, ... Imagine if Sutil does not like to drive a pointy car next to Kimi. Rubinho, I think he is great, as he knows how to fix it up.

I hear that Sutil is not too good in giving feed back. it seems that Kimi doe scare about pointy car, Kinda point on which team can say more about it, ... Imagine if Sutil does not like to drive a pointy car next to Kimi. Rubinho, I think he is great, as he knows how to fix it up.

No, they are with the team since India GP AFAIR. I even have written about that in the FW33's thread. It looks like they will be medium sponsor for the team and I think they will stay at least until the end of 2012 (but may far longer).

Sauber proved at first half this season that there is no need of having an experienced driver on board to do really well.

Bottas is one of the most promising young drivers and he can become one of better drivers in F1 next few years.

But for 2012 I would rather prefer Sutil. However: Kimi, Sutil, Rubens or Bottas, all are far better choices than for example Van der Garde, who was strongly linked with Williams 2012 seat before rumours about Kimi had started. Luckily, it seems it is between Sutil, Rubens or Bottas if negotiations with Kimi actually has fallen.

Hmm Sutil. His improving performance coincided with Force India's perfection of the off throttle blown diffuser, meaning they could generate way more downforce than their immediate competitors. That option is no longer available. How well is Sutil going to cope with a moderate car?
Ideally what Williams need is a Tier 1 driver. It does not now look like they're going to get one. I'd say put in young Bottas, any rookie is going to take time to find his feet, so lets do it now in a development year. Gillan's approach is for engineers to drive development and experience has not worked for the team this year.

Hmm Sutil. His improving performance coincided with Force India's perfection of the off throttle blown diffuser, meaning they could generate way more downforce than their immediate competitors. That option is no longer available. How well is Sutil going to cope with a moderate car? Ideally what Williams need is a Tier 1 driver. It does not now look like they're going to get one. I'd say put in young Bottas, any rookie is going to take time to find his feet, so lets do it now in a development year. Gillan's approach is for engineers to drive development and experience has not worked for the team this year.

Good grief, give the guy a chance, he has only been there a couple of months. He has had the worst car in Williams' history to work with and a new design team. The absolute earliest you can judge him is based on next years' results.

As for Bottas I think it's too early for him. Sutil is the better option, blown diffuser or not he is quick. Saying his improvement is down to the blown diffuser doesn't mean he can't do it without it.

The best driver combo available would be Sutil and Rubens, but it probably won't happen as they need Maldonados money

With Kimi signing for Lotus I assume the QNB deal is dead for Williams?

Good grief, give the guy a chance, he has only been there a couple of months. He has had the worst car in Williams' history to work with and a new design team. The absolute earliest you can judge him is based on next years' results.

As for Bottas I think it's too early for him. Sutil is the better option, blown diffuser or not he is quick. Saying his improvement is down to the blown diffuser doesn't mean he can't do it without it.

The best driver combo available would be Sutil and Rubens, but it probably won't happen as they need Maldonados money

With Kimi signing for Lotus I assume the QNB deal is dead for Williams?

Please allow me to clarify my statement. I meant DRIVER EXPERIENCE!!! Mark Gillan is a top drawer vehicle dynamicist. He's aleady worked miracles with the shopping trolley he was handed. I repeat Gillan is the dog's bollocks of chassis engineers! I know people think putting a rookie in the car is risky, but one advantage is that he's more likely to follow the engineers direction than have preconcieved perceptions on setup, The other thing is now the chassis is THE performance differentiator, money saved by hiring a rookie can then be ploughed into chassis developmemt. As an aside Raikkonen has just announced a 2 year deal with Lotus Renault.

Please allow me to clarify my statement. I meant DRIVER EXPERIENCE!!! Mark Gillan is a top drawer vehicle dynamicist. He's aleady worked miracles withe the shopping trolley he was handed. I repeat Gillan is the dog's bollocks of chassis engineers!

The opportunity at a (possible, can't be sure after 2 years) tier 1 driver went by, a little sad.

My first impression of Gillan has been very positive.
The car did show improvement under him, and without the team simply shoving "upgrades" into it like used to happen under Michael.
While he doesn't actually design the car, he seems to have a great understanding of what it needs, that should be a great help.

I reckon Williams have dodged a bullet missing out on Kimi.
No sense going for a guy who was great in 2005.
Williams need a strong baseline from which they can target the Mercedes/FI pace before they can think seriously about attracting a topline driver.

Not think Senna will get the drive? he comes with some handy sponsorship and proved himself for this season.

Why should only money talk again? They have already one paid driver and need to have one who can score points... Sutil is definitely the best candidate... Rubens isn t at top form any more... But still I would have choose him instead of Maldonado, who didn t impress me at all...

I'm a bit torn about Rubens, while i think he is a better driver than Sutil, i also think he didn't bring his "a" game this season.
Is that because he doesn't have it anymore? Or because he gave up due to a poor car?

I'm a bit torn about Rubens, while i think he is a better driver than Sutil, i also think he didn't bring his "a" game this season. Is that because he doesn't have it anymore? Or because he gave up due to a poor car?

Either way it makes me trust him a bit less.

I wouldn't say qualifying 12th at Brazil and finishing 12th at Abu Dhabi is giving up. Certainly towards the end of the season Rubens was having some great drives

That said, short of Rubens/Bruno securing Petrobras, it's unlikely such a large deal could be brought along.

Petrobras don't sponsor drivers, they want a lubricant deal for Lubrax and a technical partnership with an engine manufacturer.This would lead to dropping Total as Renault partner and totally a new engine program.

Petrobras don't sponsor drivers, they want a lubricant deal for Lubrax and a technical partnership with an engine manufacturer.This would lead to dropping Total as Renault partner and totally a new engine program.

I wouldn't say qualifying 12th at Brazil and finishing 12th at Abu Dhabi is giving up. Certainly towards the end of the season Rubens was having some great drives

That's exactly what makes me say that, mid season he was getting spanked by Pastor every weekend, and near the end, when he felt the need to show he still had what it takes for 1 more season/contract... Rubens stepped up a notch.

Left me with a feeling that he gave up mid season, to be honest.

Also, Williams will not dump five years of PDVSA for 1 year of Petrobras (deal which won't happen anyway), everything points to Maldonado staying, accept it.

That's exactly what makes me say that, mid season he was getting spanked by Pastor every weekend, and near the end, when he felt the need to show he still had what it takes for 1 more season/contract... Rubens stepped up a notch.

Left me with a feeling that he gave up mid season, to be honest.

Also, Williams will not dump five years of PDVSA for 1 year of Petrobras (deal which won't happen anyway), everything points to Maldonado staying, accept it.

Yeah maybe in the mid-season but not at the start or end I think. And I agree on the PDVSA stuff

So is Sutil now also available for Williams now, for sure? Or should he wants to stay at FI more so now? Lots has to be cleared up.

Sutil, Rubens, Maldonado.

1. Maldonado comes with PDVSA money. If not is he worth his performance?
2. Rubens got one more year, I personally think, and bring the team up.
3. Sutil has speed, if he is available then get him. He also comes with Medion, presumably...

What is for me not clear is about PDVSA deal. Should Williams want to maintain the financial backing, yes for sure, but should they count on it, no it is not.

So is Sutil now also available for Williams now, for sure? Or should he wants to stay at FI more so now? Lots has to be cleared up.

Sutil, Rubens, Maldonado.

1. Maldonado comes with PDVSA money. If not is he worth his performance?2. Rubens got one more year, I personally think, and bring the team up.3. Sutil has speed, if he is available then get him. He also comes with Medion, presumably...

What is for me not clear is about PDVSA deal. Should Williams want to maintain the financial backing, yes for sure, but should they count on it, no it is not.

There are still so many questions regarding sponsors for next year that have an affect on the driver choice

1. Is the PDVSA deal OK? If so Maldonado will be kept on. If not is it worth keeping him?2. Is the QNB deal now dead since Kimi is no longer available? If it's still a go-er do they want a say in driver choice?3. Depending on what happens to the above, Sutil may become a necessity with his backing

I would like to see a deal with QNB, Rubens and Sutil driving. No idea if/could it happen though

I question if Sutil is available, even to negotiate. Fi seems to be thinking long about it. At the end f the day Sutil may not be available
Senna, with his name, and the speed potential he shown this year could be worth. He is available as Lotus-Reno talks about Kubica and has Pet on the board already.